Desk novelty letter holder



w. W. M GUIRE 0 DESK NOVELTY LETTER HOLDER Filed June 12, 1946 March 21,1950' Inventor Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DESKNOVELTY LETTER HOLDER Walter W. McGuire, Jackson, Mich.

Application June 12, 1946, Serial No. 676,210

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a device for holding letters, papers, and thelike.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel letter holderfor use upon a desk, or the like, the letter holder also forming a noveland attractive desk ornament.

A further object is to provide a letter holder including gravityactuated self-adjusting means for securing a number of letters in place.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of theabove mentioned class which is extremely simple, and thereforeinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be a parent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawin s. forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a letter holder embodyin theinvention,

Fi ure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 ofFigure 2,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a knob removed, pa t in section, and,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a pin removed.

In the drawings, where for the pu ose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I de i nates agenerally flat rectangu ar base, provided in its upper surface with acentral longitudinal groove or recess 1 l, the bottom I2 of wh ch slo esdown wardly toward one end of the base l0, from a point on the topsurface of the base. near the opposite end of the same. The recess H isparallel to the sides of base II]. as sho n. Side upstanding portions orguide shoulders l3 are formed by the recess II. A vertical rectangularend or wall I4 is permanently ri idly secured to one end of base i0, asshown, and projects above the same for a substantial distance. This endI4 extends for the full width of base l0, and its sides are flush withthe sides of the base.

A removable weight or roller I 5 is arranged in the recess l I. and isada ted to roll freely upon the inclined bottom 12. The axial width ofroller 15 is slightly less than the width of recess l I, and the rolleris guided by the inner sides I 6 of shoulders l3. The roller 15 iscylindrical, and provided upon its opposite sides and at its center withknobs or handles 11, having axial openings 18 to receive dowel pinsi9,or the like, which also engage in an axial opening ,20 extendingthrough the center of roller 15.

The parts of the device above described may be formed of wood, metal,plastic, or any other suitable material. Suitable ornamentation may beprovided, and I have shown inlay strips 2| 0 arranged in the top surfaceof base [0, and similar inlay strips 22 in the inner vertical surface ofend I4. These strips 21 and 22 may be made any color desired, such asred. v

In use, the device is placed upon a desk, or the like, as in Figure 1.The roller l5 will always tend to roll down the inclined bottom I2, andwill therefore exert a constant force against the inner surface of endM. The desired number of letters or papers may be placed verticallybetween the end 14 and roller [5, and will be held in place by theroller. As each letter or paper is withdrawn, the roller IE willautomatically roll down the bottom I 2 a slight distance, due togravity, and the remaining letters will be held in place. The knobs I!facilitate handling the roller [5, which is removable.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or thescope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A device for holding letters and the like, comprising a substantiallyhorizontal generally fiat rectangular low base provided upon its upperfacewith a longitudinal shallow recess extending for substantially itsentire length, the bottom of said shallow recess being inclineddownwardly toward one end of said base, spaced parallel longitudinalguide shoulders at the sides of the base and having inner vertical edgesformed by said shallow recess, a substantially vertical end wall securedto the base at its end adjacent to the lowermost end of the inclinedbottom and extending transversely across the base and above the base fora substantial distance, and a removable cylindrical roller disposedwithin the recess and adapted to roll upon said bottom and having itsends guided by said inner vertical edges, the roller tending to engagethe inner side of said end wall and serving to removably clamp lettersand the like against the same.

WALTER W. MCGUIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,486 Van Benthuysen Feb. 17,1891 648,603 Whitehead May 1, 1900 669,142 Love Mar. 5, 1901 1,485,092Rauchut Feb. 26, 1924 1,843,692 McDonald Feb. 2, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 35,206 France July 2, 1929

